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Addressing & Sending International Mail

Note: Check the U.S. Postal Service Global Updates regularly for important information on restrictions.

How to Send USPS International Mail

1. Decide which USPS international delivery service you want to use

Available Products (Current pricing available at united states postal service website)

  • Express Mail International (3-5 days)
  • Priority Mail International (6-10 days)
  • First-Class Mail International (available to more than 180 countries)

2. Consider your insurance needs

UCLA MDDS offers standard U.S. Postal Service insurance. For international service, the receiving country will charge the recipient a duty tax.

3. Decide which customs forms you need, if any

All First-Class International Mail requires a customs form except for items that weigh less than 16 ounces and do not have potentially dutiable contents.

Effective immediately, the USPS will no longer accept any handwritten copies of Customs Form PS 2976 (PDF) (generally necessary for international shipments weighing under four pounds) nor Customs Form PS 2976-A (PDF) (utilized for international shipments four pounds or more).

All USPS customs forms must be prepared and submitted electronically (online).

The USPS offers a free tool to help you prepare the correct customs form.

Simply print out the form from your desktop, sign, and attach to your package (rubber band or lightly taped on sides) for pick up by UCLA Mail Services on your daily route.

4. Complete your address labels

When addressing international mail, use these USPS recommendations for destination and return addresses.

Destination Address
  • Use all capital letters
  • Type or legibly write the address in English
  • Use no more than five lines, including:
  • Addressee’s name
  • Street address or P.O. box number
  • City or town, principal subdivision such as province, state, or county and postal code. (In some countries, the postal code may precede the city or town.)
  • Country name

Sample

MS JOYCE BROWNING
2045 ROYAL ROAD
LONDON WIP 6HQ
ENGLAND

MS JOYCE BROWNING
2045 ROYAL ROAD
06570 ST PAUL
FRANCE

Return Address
  • Sender’s name
  • UCLA Department (department)
  • Box 951234, 1234 Campus Hall (box and campus address)
  • Los Angeles, CA 90095-1234 (city, state, ZIP+4 code)

Sample

Joe Bruin (name)
UCLA Department (department)
Box 951234, 1234 Campus Hall (box and campus address)
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1234 (city, state, ZIP+4 code)

Note: If your item requires a customs form, the return address on your mail and on the customs form must be identical.

5. Prepare your mail

List the following information on the envelope:

  1. Attach your return address label with Recharge ID number to the top left corner
  2. Attach your recipient address label in the center
  3. If your item requires a customs form, attach the customs form to the left of the recipient address label

Sample

Insert for Mail Services section - Sending International Mail

Note: A customs form does not replace your address label.

6. Post your mail

Give your mail to the letter carrier or drop it off at Mail, Document & Distribution Services.

7. Check your mail charges

Charges are uploaded to the MMDS website on a daily basis. You can search by individual ID or by FS Department Code for a complete listing of all charges. Statements are mailed on request, only.

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